Improvement in machines for dressing hoops



2 Sheets -Sheet I.

P. FLANDERS. Machines for Dressing Hoops. N0.I57,959. Patented Dec.22,1874.

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Machines for Dressing iH oops N0.l57,959. Z7 Patented 0ec.22,1874.

W k /r/ 1/ 0 y C a UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER FLANDERS, OELOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING HOQPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.157,959,dated December 22, 1874; application filed August 22, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER FLANDERS, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Dressing Hoops, of which the following is a specification:

Figure I of the accompanying drawings is a side view, Fig. 2 is a top view, Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 4 is a part in detail, of my improved hoop-cutting machine.

The object of the present invent-ion is mainly to provide a machine for cutting or shaving hoopstock for barrels, &c., in an expeditious and effective manner, and in the direction of the length or with the grain of the stock, and without detriment to the operation by the passage of knots or other uneven surfaces of the stock, as well as to allow the ready introduction and operation of quartered or angular stock; and my invention consists of the combination and arrangement of devices, which I will now proceed more particularly to describe and claim.

In the drawings, A represents a wooden or other stand, supporting longitudinal beams or bed B, to WllllOll is attached, by screws a, or otherwise held, the sides 0 of the machine frame, which is of metal or other suitable material, and slotted to receive and allow the movement vertically of adjustable journalboxes I) c d c f g, curved and shaped as shown,

or otherwise formed, as desired, to economize material and supply the necessary strength. The sides 0 support a top transverse plate, 0, having a central bifurcated standard, h, that receives a fulcrum, It, on which turns a longitudinal lever, D, provided with an adjustable weight, E, and resting in a bifurcated top of a vertical stem, F, which extends downward through a curved central top plate, G, connecting the top plate 0 with a parallel top plate, O{. The bottom of the stemF is attached to a frame, Gr, formed by curved arms radiating diagonally from a center, to allow the raising and lowering of the boxes I) 0, in which boxes are arranged to turn the axles of an upper forward feed or friction roller, H, and an upper rear feed or friction roller, I, located transversely in the machine above a lower forward feed-roller, J, and a lower rear feed-roller, K, Fig. 3. The upper rollers H I are located a sufficient distance above the lower rollers, J K to admit between them and feed along the hoop-stock. Centrally below the rollers J K, and between them, is a cutterhead, L, Fig. 3, whose axle turns in adjustable boxes d, regulated by screws m m, or otherwise, and to which head the knives M are attached by screws '5, or otherwise held so as to be readily adjusted or removed, extending the length of the head, which is so located, and on which the knives are so adjusted, as to bring, when rotated, the cutting-edges against the bottom of the hoop-stock as it is fed along by the rollers. Above the cutter'head L, and between and a little above the rollers H I, is a guide-roller, N, supported in adjustable boxes 6, located in the central upper slots of the sides 0, and provided with a spiral or other spring, k, or yielding bearing. The sides 0 are connected at the bottom by cross rods or bars 0. On the outside of the frame 0 the axle of the head L is provided at one end with a belt-pulley, 1?, connecting, by a belt, with a driving wheel, Q, whose shaft It turns in suitable boxes supported in brackets connected with one end of the stand A, or otherwise held, as preferred. The shaft R is provided with a worm-gear, S, that meshes with and rotates a pinion, T, Fig. 3, located on a vertical shaft,

U, turning in a bed-socket, 12, attached to the cross-bar A of the frame A, or otherwise supported, and at the top the shaft U is supported to turn in a stand, V, attached to the bed or beam B,and shaped to form a support,V,for one end of a longitudinal shaft, W, turning in suitable brackets q, attached to the outside of the frame 0, and provided with a bevel-gear, t, that meshes with and is operated by a beveled gear, 8, located on the top end of shaft U. The shaft W is also provided with bevelgears u c, that mesh with and operate, respectively, bevel-gears w .90, so as to rotate the rollers J K. The lower forward roller J is notched or grooved, as at y, Fig. 4, around its periphery, to admit quartered or angular hoop-stock.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: Steam or other motive power being applied to the driving-wheel Q, motion is communicated to the belt-pulley P, and the knives M are rotated against the hoop'stock, which is introduced between the rollers H J, and fed along to and between the rollers I K, which deposit the stock out in the desired manner. The knives acting on the stock longitudinally, or in the direction of the grain, insures greater strength to the hoop than if arranged to cut against the grain of the stock. The shaft It at the same time operates the gearing mechanism, which rotates the lower rollers J K, that, together with the friction on the stock induced by the upper rollers H I, feed the stock to the action of the knives, and deposit it from the machine cut or shaved in the desired manner. The central upper roller N guides the stock and prevents its rising as it is fed along from one pair of rollers to the other pair. When any knot or other obstruction or uneven surface of the stock encounters the rollers, the upper rollers H I, by means of their adjustable boXes having a lllOVOllilGllt in the slotted sides of the frame, are raised automatically, thereby elevating the stem F of their connecting-frame G, the lever I) turning on its fulcrum h, and held in the top of the stem F, so as to rise with, and yet have at all times, by its weighted portion, an equal pressure upon it, which pressure is imparted by the frame G to the rollers, an even bearing being thus exerted on the hoop-stock, notwithstanding any unevenness of surface that may present itself, and thereby insuring an even cutting or shaving of the under side of the hoop-stock.

The frame G may be of any suitable shape, arranged to connect and be raised and lowered by the rollers, and to receive at all times an equal pressure from a weighted lever, or its equivalent.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent, is

In a hoop-dressing machine, the combination of weighted frame G, resting upon and connected with sliding journal-boxes be, and upper feedrollers H I, with lower feed-rollers J K, cutter-head L, and yielding guide-roller N,s1:1bstantially as and for the purpose set fort.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER FLANDERS.

Witnesses:

SAML. M. BARTON, OHAs. L. KlDDER. 

